Anchoring device for fixing elements of a particular type on a flat surface

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns an anchoring device ( 1 ) for fixing elements of a particular type on a flat surface ( 3 ), preferably tensioned, such as shrouds, riggings, cable. The device is in the form of two mutually secured plates ( 3, 4 ), one ( 3 ) generally designed to be pressed against an inner surface of a flat surface ( 2 ), being integral with a socket ( 5 ) capable of being positioned opposite a perforation of the flat surface ( 2 ), the socket ( 5 ) containing a bundle of flexible fibers ( 6 ) flared at one end to form at least one layer ( 6 A) enclosed between the two plates ( 3, 4 ), the bundle of fibers ( 6 ) projecting outside the socket ( 5 ) to act as an anchoring point to an element of a particular type connected to the bundle ( 6 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an anchoring device on a wall for thesecurement of elements of any nature, preferably subject to tension,such as shrouds, riggings, cable, various superstructure members or thelike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Anchoring devices used until now, particularly in the nautical field forthe securement of pulleys, shrouds, riggings, cables or the like aredevices of heavy weight compared to the mechanical strength they canoffer.

A known anchoring device is particularly constituted by a plate and acounter-plate disposed on opposite sides of the wall of the bridge andassembled by screwing. The plate is over-mounted with a rigid anchoringring. Such an anchoring device requires two people for its installationand requires a large number of holes in the bridge, which is neversatisfactory from the standpoint of mechanical strength of the bridge.Moreover, the presence of a rigid anchoring ring limits thepossibilities of securement of the connected element and does not permitorientation about 360°.

There is moreover known, from the patents EP 1 053 933 and WO/1.42682,anchoring devices in which the anchoring ring is disconnected from therest of the device such that the resistance to traction is limited.

Other anchoring devices, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,122,120, 6,389,659, 5,887,840 and 6,000,107 have complicatedconstructions but which up until now have not given completesatisfaction.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring deviceadapted to work about 360° by covering the line delimited by a halfsphere, the design of this device requiring a single perforation of thewall that receives the device from its mounting and permitting rapidmounting of such a device by a single person.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an anchoringdevice whose design facilitates its un-mounting and permits itsapplication on any type of profiled support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention has for its object an anchoring device on awall for the securement of elements of any type, preferably subject totension, such as shrouds, rigging, cable, characterized in that thedevice is present in the form of two plates secured together, one ofthese plates, generally adapted to be applied against the internalsurface of a wall, being secured to a socket adapted to be positionedfacing a hole in said wall, this socket containing a bundle of flexiblefibers flared at one end to form at least one layer gripped between thetwo plates, the bundle of fibers projecting outside the socket to serveas an anchoring point for any type of element connected to the bundle.

The design of the mentioned anchoring device permits obtaining anextremely short mounting and replacement time, these operations beingadapted to be performed by a single person. Moreover, the anchoringpoint of the elements to be connected being in the form of a bundle offibers, it is possible to work about an orientation extending over 360°in the corresponding mass of a semi-sphere.

Finally, the device can have an extremely low weight, of the order of140 grams, whilst offering resistance to traction of about 13 tons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood from a reading of the followingdescription of examples of embodiment, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an anchoring device in the course ofinstallation on a wall such as the wall of a ship's bridge;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the device in the exploded conditionof its constituent elements;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the device;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of ananchoring device in the condition mounted on a wall, such as the wall ofthe bridge of a ship; and

FIG. 5 shows in cross-sectional view the device of FIG. 4 in theexploded condition of the elements constituting it.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As mentioned above, the anchoring device 1, according to the invention,is preferably adapted to be inserted through a hole in the wall 2 suchas the wall of a bridge, the simple application on a wall not beingexcluded. This anchoring device 1 permits the securement of elements ofany nature, generally subject to tension, such as shrouds, rigging,cable. The anchoring device 1 is present in the form of two plates 3 and4 secured together. The plate 3, generally adapted to be applied againstthe internal surface of a wall 2, is secured to a cylindrical socket 5adapted to pass partially through the wall 2 by means of the holeprovided in this wall. The socket 5 can be made in a single piece withthe plate 3 for application on the wall (FIGS. 3 and 4). In anequivalent manner, socket 5 and plate 3 can be made in the form of twoseparate pieces. This socket 5 contains a bundle 6 of flexible fibersflared at one end in the form of a star, as shown in FIG. 2, to form alayer 6A gripped between the two plates 3 and 4. The bundle 6 of fibersmoreover projects outside the socket 5 to serve as an anchoring pointfor an element of any type connected to the bundle 6.

In the illustrated examples, this plate 3 for application against theinternal surface of a wall 2 is a plate preferably in the form oflayered carbon. The plate 4, opposite the plate 3 for applicationagainst the wall 2, is also present preferably in the form of layeredcarbon or layered glass. The fibers of the layer 6A of fiber arethemselves disposed between said plates in a radial arrangement relativeto the socket 5. This radiating arrangement can be achieved by means forflaring the fibers distributed over all the surface of said plates, asshown in FIG. 2, or over a portion of this surface as a function of theapplications. The plates 3 and 4 and the layer 6A of fibers are securedtogether by a binder 7 such as a polymerizable resin. This resin ispreferably a resin of the epoxy type or of the methacrylate type. Theplate 4 opposite the plate 3 for application against the wall 2 cancomprise drainage openings 9 for the evacuation of excess binder duringsecurement together of the plates 3 and 4 and of the layer 6A of fibers.Thanks to this mounting, the flared fibers are both retained by gluingand by friction because of the mechanical mounting. As a result, thereis an increase of the mechanical resistance of the assembly. The portionof bundle 6 of fibers passing through the socket 5 is itself held withina sleeve 8, preferably thermo-shrinkable, this sleeve 8, disposed withinthe socket 5, is thus disposed coaxially of the socket 5. The projectingportion 6B of the bundle 6 of fibers, outside the socket 5, itself hasthe form of a loop. In one embodiment, not shown, this projectingportion could have been in an analogous manner constituted by a singlestrand bundle, the connection being adapted to be carried out forexample with the element to be connected by means of a splice.Generally, this fiber bundle is present in the form of fibers preferablybraided. However, in a similar way, such a bundle of fibers can bepresent in the form of a bundle of unbraided fibers. These fibers arepreferably polyester or polyethylene high modulus fibers.

The production of such an anchoring device can take place as follows.Starting with a bundle of fibers, preferably of high modulus polyesteror polyethylene, there is created a loop by simple bending of saidbundle. About the region in which the strands of the bundle extendparallel, there is mounted a sleeve 8, preferably thermo-shrinkable.This sleeve is thus emplaced on the fiber bundle threaded within saidsleeve 8, then heated so as to shrink it. The present of thisthermo-shrinkable sleeve 8 permits forcing the fibers of the bundlebetween each other to prevent any disturbance of the fibers which arethus positioned all at the same length. Moreover, such a sleeve permitsavoiding migration of the binder toward the projecting portion of saidbinder during securement of the plates to each other. Once the bundle offibers is thus prepared, it can be incorporated in a first piececonstituted by the assembly formed by the male socket 5 and the plate 3for application against the wall 2. The male socket 5 and the plate 3are made of a single piece or have previously been cemented together. Tothis end, the socket 5 is provided at its base with a shoulder 5A thatbears against the internal wall of that plate 3 upon application againstthe wall 2. The socket 5 thus permits protecting the carbon plate 3 atthe level of its opening, permitting the passage of the fibers as wellas the fibers themselves, particularly at their bend. The end of thefiber bundle is then flared to position the fibers in a configurationsimilar particularly to that shown in FIG. 2. A binder, such as a resinof the epoxy type or methacrylate type, is then applied to the assemblyof the fibers. This resin can be present in the form of a film active ata temperature generally about the order of 80° C. There can also be useda process of production by wet means. Once the fibers of the bundle havebeen flared and the binder introduced, there is then pressed againstsaid layer the plate 4 which is opposite to the plate 3 for applicationagainst the wall 2. The flared fibers thus extend in the form of a layerin the space provided between said plates. The securement of the plates3 and 4 can then be carried out. This securement takes place generallyunder vacuum and at high temperature. This vacuum is held for about 5hours. There is then observed a first hardening of the resin whichpolymerizes at a temperature comprised between 25° C. and 80° C. Heatingcan be repeated to increase the modulus of resistance of the resin.There is observed, because of the mode of production of such ananchoring device and the design of this device, that the holding of thefibers takes place principally by friction and not by gluing. The gluingcan however be improved by a surface treatment of the fibers. Once theplates are secured together, the anchoring device is ready to beinstalled. The emplacement of an anchoring device takes place in anextremely easy manner. Thus, it suffices to thread the socket 5 within ahole in the wall 2, if desired provided with a female socket 10 topermit the emplacement of such a device. As a result, such a device iseasily removable. In this particular embodiment of the invention, thesocket 5 can be a screw-threaded socket so as to coact with ascrew-threaded female socket 10 disposed in a hole in the wall 2. Thissocket 10, called female, is held by gripping in the hole in the wall 2.The presence of this female socket 10 permits avoiding any alteration ofthe wall 2 as to its junction zone with an anchoring device. Thus, andto this end, the female socket 10 comprises at one of its ends an edgecovering the wall.

In another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, thesocket 5 is threaded within a hole in the wall 2 whose outlet, on theinternal surface of the wall, is delimited by an annular plate 12forming the internal surface of the wall against which the plate 3 forapplication of the device is applied. Thus, and in this case, theinternal surface of the wall is so arranged as to receive the device.This annular plate 12 is preferably glued to the rest of the wall toform a single and same assembly. The socket 10, threaded through thehole in the wall 2, thus projects through said annular plate 12 andpermits its centering relative to the rest of the hole provided in thewall 2. This annular plate 12 is provided with a throat and/or anannular shoulder serving for the reception of a toric joint 13positioned about the socket 5 so as to obtain a device connected in asealed manner to the wall 2. It can also be envisaged to cement one orthe other of the surfaces of the plate 3 and the plate 5 facing eachother and applied against the other. There can also be provided, in theplate 12, a shoulder serving for the reception by simple encasing of theend of the screw-threaded socket 10 through the hole in the wall andprojecting into the recess of the annular plate 12. The mounting,according to that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, will be more particularlyuseful in the case in which it is necessary to obtain a sealed mountingbetween the device and the wall. During this handling of the device, itsuffices to disconnect the plate 3 from the plate 12 so as todisassemble the device and proceed to its replacement.

Independently of the embodiment used, such a mounting can be carried outby a single and same person. The operation of mounting lasts onlyseveral minutes. The same is true of disassembly. Once the anchoringdevice is in place, the projecting end of the bundle of fibers can thusbe connected to an element of any nature. Because the connecting elementis present in the form of a bundle of single strand fibers or in theform of a loop, as shown in the figures, there results the possibilityof orientation of this anchoring point about 360°.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a supplemental plate 11 isinserted between the plates 3 and 4. The flared fibers extend over onesurface of said intermediate plate 11 before being pressed against theother surface of said plate. Thus, the fibers envelope said intermediateplate 11 and form two layers. There results a double wedging of thefibers of the bundle and an increase of the frictional surface, withoutincreasing the size of the device.

1. An anchoring device (1) for anchoring on a wall (2) for thesecurement of elements of any type, characterized in that the devicecomprises two plates (3, 4) secured to each other, one (3) of said twoplates (3, 4), generally adapted to be applied against the internalsurface of a wall (2), being secured to a socket (5) adapted to bepositioned facing a hole of said wall (2), said socket (5) containing abundle (6) of flexible fibers flared at one end to form at least onelayer (6A) gripped between the two plates (3, 4), the bundle (6) offibers projecting outside the socket (5) to serve as the anchoring pointfor an element of any type connected to the bundle (6).
 2. The anchoringdevice (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the plates (3, 4)and the layer (6A) of fibers are secured together by a binder (7). 3.The anchoring device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that thesocket (5) and the plate (3) for application against the wall with whichthe socket (5) is connected, are made in a single piece.
 4. Theanchoring device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that theanchoring device is provided, between the plates (3 and 4), with asupplemental plate (11), the flared fibers of the bundle of fibersextending over a surface of said intermediate plate before being pushedback against the other surface of said plate.
 5. The anchoring device(1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a portion of the bundle(6) passing through the socket (5) is held within a sleeve (8),preferably thermo-shrinkable.
 6. The anchoring device (1) according toclaim 1, characterized in that a projecting portion (6B) of the bundle(6) of fibers outside the socket (5) has the shape of a loop.
 7. Theanchoring device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that thesocket (5) is threaded within a hole in said wall (2) which is providedwith a female socket (10) to render the device easily movable.
 8. Theanchoring device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that thesocket (5) is screw-threaded so as to coact with a screw-threaded femalesocket (10) disposed within a hole in the wall (2).
 9. The anchoringdevice (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the socket (5) isthreaded within a hole in the wall (2) whose outlet, on the internalsurface side of the wall, is delimited by an annular plate (12) formingthe internal surface of the wall against which one of the plates (3) ofthe device bears.
 10. The anchoring device (1) according to claim 9,characterized in that the annular plate (12) is provided with a throatand/or an annular shoulder serving for the reception of a toric joint(13) positioned about the socket (5) so as to obtain a device connectedwater-tightly to the wall (2).
 11. The anchoring device (1) according toclaim 2, characterized in that the socket (5) and the plate (3) forapplication against the wall with which the socket (5) is connected, aremade in a single piece.
 12. The anchoring device (1) according to claim2, characterized in that the anchoring device is provided, between theplates (3 and 4), with a supplemental plate (11), the flared fibers ofthe bundle of fibers extending over a surface of said supplemental platebefore being pushed back against an opposite surface of saidintermediate plate.
 13. The anchoring device (1) according to claim 2,characterized in that a portion of the bundle (6) passing through thesocket (5) is held within a sleeve (8), preferably, thermo-shrinkable.14. The anchoring device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in thata portion of the bundle (6) passing through the socket (5) is heldwithin a sleeve (8), preferably thermo-shrinkable.
 15. The anchoringdevice (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that a portion of thebundle (6) passing through the socket (5) is held within a sleeve (8),preferably thermo-shrinkable.
 16. The anchoring device (1) according toclaim 2, characterized in that a projecting portion (6B) of the bundle(6) of fibers outside the socket (5) has the shape of a loop.
 17. Theanchoring device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that aprojecting portion (6B) of the bundle (6) of fibers outside the socket(5) has the shape of a loop.
 18. The anchoring device (1) according toclaim 4, characterized in that a projecting portion (6B) of the bundle(6) of fibers outside the socket (5) has the shape of a loop.
 19. Theanchoring device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that aprojecting portion (6B) of the bundle (6) of fibers outside the socket(5) has the shape of a loop.